Miner&#39;s pick.



PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

W. W. HOOVER.

MINERS PICK APPLICATION FILED 1320. 1.1903.

Ljaegfar I Alfwn zys WHoo m9];

'NiTEn STATES Patented May 2, 190 5.

PATENT OFFICE.

MINEIRS PICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,719, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed December 4:, 1903. Serial No. 183,811.

To (LZZ whom it TIMLI/ concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 1V. Hoovnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peniield, in the county of Clearlield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Miners Pick, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to picks, more particularly to the picks used by miners, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and produce an implement of this character having a plurality of detachable and interchangeable points for each pick-head; and the inventionconsists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is a side View, and Fig. 2 is a plan view, of a pick with the improvements embodied therein. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the detachable points.

The improved pick is designed more particularly for use by miners in bituminous-coal mines, but may be employed in any locality and for any purpose for which it is adapted, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited in its use for any specific purpose. For the purpose of illustration an approved form of the picks used by such miners is shown as embodying the improvements sought to be protected and consisting of a central or eye portion, as at 10, in which the handle 11 is supported, and with tapered circular sockets 12 13 in the ends. Formed transversely through the member 10 and transecting the sockets 12 13 are drift-apertures 14 15, and projecting into the rear ends of the sockets at right angles to the apertures 14c 15 arestoppins 17 18, as shown. The points are represented at 19 20 and are provided with tapered studs 21 22, corresponding to the sockets 12 13, and with recesses 23 23 for engagement by the stoppins 17 18.

The recesses 23 23 will be so located relative to the stop-pins 17 18 that the points 19 20 can be inserted only when in correct position and cannot be rotated in.the sockets after they are positioned therein. Hence no danger exists of the points being wrongly positioned 0r displaced while in use.

The sizes of the studs 21 22 will be suflicient to prevent the shoulders thereon from hearing against the ends of the head member 10, so that a slight interval will remain between them, as shown. By this means the points will be firmly seated in the sockets by the blows of the miner in using the implement and all danger of their working loose obviated. A

The recesses 23 23 and the stop-pins 17 18 being located, respectively, at the inner ends of the butt-ends of the points and of the sockets do not weaken the parts or lessen the area of contact at the outer ends of the sockets, where the greatest strains occur. By this means the full strength of the portions 21 22 is retained and the durability of the implement thereby materially increased. Moreover, it is preferred to locate the pins 17 and 18 at the inner ends of the respective sockets for the reason that in this position they are entirely housed within said sockets and protected against blows, wherefore they are not liable to become broken or damaged. Again, it is preferred to have each pin carried by the head rather than by the stud of the point, as one pin will then serve for a plurality of points.

The member 10 will be constructed of untempered steel and the ends containing the sockets case-hardened, as indicated at 24, and the points, together with their tapered studs, of tempered steel, while the central portion or eye will remain untempered and comparatively soft and yielding. By this means the portions of the implement subjected to the impact of the blows when in use will be hardened to resist them, while the central por tion will be in condition to yield to the concussion and likewise expand when the handle is driven home, and thereby enclasp itmore tightly and increase its grip thereon under the force of the blows when in use. This construction, whereby the central portion is left comparatively soft or yielding and the end portions hardened, is an important feature of the invention and adds materially to the value and efficiency of the invention for the reasons above stated.

When the points are to be detached, a W ed gekey, as at 26, will be driven into the apertures and drift the tapered ends 21 22 from the sockets. By this simple arrangement a single head member 10 and handle 11 may be provided with a plurality of the points 19 20. so that When the points become dulled or broken they can be renewed or replaced very quickly and With very little trouble.

The improved device, as before stated, Will be found of great advantage in soft or bituminous coal mines, and a miner equipped With one of the heads 10 and its handle 11, together with a number of extra points, Will be in as good condition for effective Work as if he had as many extra sharpened picks as he has extra pairs of points, with the very material advantage of only a fraction of the load to carry to and from the mines.

By forming all the points and heads in interchangeable sizes the miner need transport the points only to and from the mine, leaving the more bulky head 10 and handle 11 in the mine. By this simple means the labor is materially decreased Without decrease of efiiciency. The expense of the outfit of the miner is also very materially decreased, as one single head 10 with its handle 11, together With a dozen of the points, Will cost much less than half a dozen ordinary picks-the usual supply While at the same time being fully as efective.

The parts may be of any suitable relative size and modified in minor particulars Without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is- 1. A pick comprising a head having a longitudinally-tapered socket in one end thereof, with an open-ended drift-slot intersecting the back of the socket and extending entirely through the head transversely of the socket, a pin permanently set transversely Within the head and projected into the back portion of the socket, and a removable point having a smooth-tapered shank to fit the socket and provided with a seat'to receive the projection and constitute a guide for the proper positioning of the point.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a pickhead having a smooth-tapered longitudinal socket in one end thereof With an openended drift-slot transversely piercing the head and intersecting the back of the socket, and a permanent pin set entirely Within the head With its inner end transversely entering the back portion of the socket to constitute a guide for setting a removable point.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto alfixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM W. HOOVER.

Witnesses:

S. D. JORDAN, JosEPH BANNET. 

